[bobtn]

"Additionally, the 'new economy' in CT seems to follow the pathway as other higher cost regions of the nation. Utilizing a 'Knowledge based economy' over one that 'makes things'."

Thta model hasn't been shown to work, in terms of the hollowing out of employment of making things, while creating jobs at levels equal to national pace. That is why 250K Ct residents fled in 90s, and studies showed they were above Ct median educational level.

FYI: Bureau of Labor Stats shows Rust Belt and Northeast are consistently ranked 8 and 9 of 9 nat'l regions in job creation of last 2 decades.

A knowledge economy is simply not enough in order to grow jobs at reasonable rates. If it were, Northeast would not be amongst worst 2 regions nationally.

[Rich Lee]

I'm a fan of the auto industry. Over the past 15 years, new plants have opened in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas. At the same time, plants have closed in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The ones to open were European, Asian, and American (Saturn). The ones to close were American. There's a definite trend here. The jobs that take their place (in the Northeast) aren't paying the same in wages.

[bobtn]

Ditto, Rich Lee. Nashville was the recipient of the relocation of Nissan US hq last year; 1,200 jobs with $140k median salary, 720 hired locally, plus several hundred more in firms servicing hq moved, too.

Bridgeport, Ct had a guy talking of adding luxury, small production car corp a few years ago. It has not gotten past the idea stage.

[skytrekker]

Most of the rapid job growth in the south and southwest (excluding California) has been predicated in in migration- real estate, technology, finance- with those factors changing; among them; in states like AZ, and NV- higher real estate costs, hotter temperatures, water problems, crime, illegal immigration- the continued boom of these regions is now in doubt.

Florida has costs now that exceed Connecticut, in most desirable places for real estate, while insurance costs for an average home can be as high as 5-10K a year.

The growth of these areas in the future is in doubt- in addition the northeast is an established geographic region.

Autos have never been the backbone to the New England economy anyway- the regions manufacturing base has been eroding for years.

From Wikipedia

Several factors contribute to the uniquenesses of the New England economy. The region is geographically isolated from the rest of the United States, and is relatively small. It has a climate and a supply of natural resources such as granite, lobster, and codfish, that are different from many other parts of the country. Its population is concentrated on the coast and in its southern states, and its residents have a strong regional identity. America's textile industry began along the Blackstone River with the Slater Mill at Pawtucket, Rhode Island,[21] and was duplicated at similar sources of water power such as Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Lawrence, Massachusetts, but most of it has long since departed due to high operating costs in the region.[citation needed] Exports consist mostly of industrial products, including specialized machines and weaponry, built by the region's educated workforce. About half of the region's exports consist of industrial and commercial machinery, such as computers and electronic and electrical equipment. This, when combined with instruments, chemicals, and transportation equipment, makes up about three-quarters of the region's exports. Granite is quarried at Barre, Vermont, guns made at Springfield, Massachusetts, boats at Groton, Connecticut and Bath, Maine, and hand tools at Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Insurance is a driving force in and around Hartford, Connecticut.

New England also exports food products, ranging from fish to lobster, cranberries, Maine potatoes, and maple syrup. The service industry is also highly important, including tourism, education, financial and insurance services, plus architectural, building, and construction services. The U.S. Department of Commerce has called the New England economy a microcosm for the entire United States economy.

As of May 2006, the unemployment rate in New England was 4.5%, below the national average. Vermont, with the lowest of the six states, had a rate of 3%. The highest was Rhode Island, with 5.5%. The metropolitan statistical area (MSA) with the lowest rate, 2.5%, was Burlington-South Burlington, in Vermont; the MSA with the highest rate, 7.9%, was Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.[

New England is home to two of the ten poorest cities (by percentage living below the poverty line) in the United States: the state capital cities of Providence, Rhode Island and Hartford, Connecticut.[ These cities have struggled as manufacturing, their traditional economic mainstay, has declined.

With its rocky soil and climate, New England is not a strong agricultural region. Some New England states, however, are ranked highly among U.S. states for particular areas of production. Maine is ranked ninth for aquaculture, Vermont fifteenth for dairy products,] and Connecticut and Massachusetts seventh and eleventh for tobacco, respectively. Cranberries are grown in the Cape Cod - Plymouth area, and blueberries in Maine. As of 2005, the inflation-adjusted combined GSPs of the six states of New England was $623.1 billion, with Massachusetts contributing the most, and Vermont the least.

Also the 250K people that fled in the 90s- are they in AZ? Florida? The states population in fact has increased in the first 8 years of the 21st century- The 1990s ended nearly 10 years -ancient history now.

Not to dis Tennessee-but I would not live in the south. Also I did notice the 'tn' are you the volunteer state?- seems there might be a fair amount of bias here..'are we on a mission here?- do I need to address the deficiencies existing in TN??

According to Forbes magazine; Quality of life Connecticut ranks 4th Tennessee ranks 34th- big difference- should we begin to elaborate on this wide differential?

[jbheavyhitter]

CT's unemployment rate as of February, 2009 is tied for 22nd at 7.4%. California, 46th at an absurd 10.5%. Mass., our neighbors to the north, 7.8%. Point is, your job growth theory doesn't add up to CT's strong economy and steady housing market compared to the rest of the US. I'm sure you will agree. That being said, CT's population has not rapidly decreased like some other states/metro areas, so clearly we must have something to offer families.

Unemployment Rates for States <<<for unemployment stats.

[Beeker2211]

As for manufacturing, actual output has not gone down really. Mass employment in that sector has declined due to more automation and specialisation. The jobs that remained are highly skilled and high paying.

To the OP. Best of luck, but in this economy everywhere it certainly helps to have a job. Housing tends to be expensive, but there certainly deals to be had. Even towns like Fairfield and Westport have both decent jobs and somewhat affordable housing, but you have to search for it.

~Cheers